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Botanical Treasures of Lewis & Clark May 19–July 9, 2006
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Washington, D.C. – The Corcoran College of Art + Design presents Botanical Treasures of Lewis & Clark, an exhibition of more than 60 works of art – including graphite drawings, watercolors, oil paintings, sculpture, jewelry, quilts – created by artists associated with the Corcoran’s Botanical Certificate program especially for the show based on observations of flora identified by Lewis and Clark. The exhibition will be on view at the Corcoran Gallery of Art from May 19 through July 9, 2006. Under the visionary direction of President Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark set out in May 1804 from St. Louis on a quest to find the elusive Northwest Passage and collect information about the land and people in the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. During their two-year journey, they gathered information that revolutionized our understanding of North America’s natural history and shaped the course of westward expansion. “The wealth of botanical samples meticulously collected by Lewis and Clark was one of the most important contributions to the science of their day,” said Leslie Exton, curator of the show and Associate Professor at the Corcoran College of Art + Design. “As artists, we hope this exhibition of contemporary botanical art pays homage to the historical significance of that collection.” Based on direct observations of plants collected or described by the explorers, the works of art in this exhibition represent a contemporary perspective on American botanical art. The exhibition will also feature original plant specimens on loan from the Lewis and Clark Herbarium at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and will coincide with the Bicentennial exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History celebrating the return of the explorers in 1806 and “American Originals,” the city-wide celebration in Washington, D.C. “The Corcoran’s Botanical Art and Illustration program launched
in the spring of 2004 in partnership with the United States Botanic Gardens
and provides students with an in-depth focus on traditions, techniques and
history of botanical art and illustration,” said Christina DePaul, Dean
of the Corcoran College of Art + Design. “We are thrilled to showcase
the work of our Botanical Art and Illustration program and be a part of this
nationwide celebration honoring two of America’s greatest explorers.” CURATOR SPONSORS PRESS PREVIEW PRESS IMAGES ABOUT THE CORCORAN GALLERY OF ART Founded in 1890, the Corcoran College of Art + Design is Washington’s only four-year college of art and design. The college currently offers a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program; a five-year BRA/Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree program; a two-year Associate of Fine Arts (AFA) degree program; Master of Arts (MA) degree programs in Interior Design and History of Decorative Arts; and a Continuing Education program encompassing more than 300 courses and 14 certificate programs for part-time adult students; as well as year-round classes designed especially for children and teens. The Corcoran Gallery of Art is located at New York Avenue and 17th Street,
NW, Washington, D.C. and is open Wednesdays – Sundays from 10 a.m. – 5
p.m. and until 9 p.m. on Thursdays. The museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays,
but open on holiday Mondays. Admission to the Corcoran is: $8.00 for adults;
$6.00 for senior citizens and U.S. military personnel; $4 for students with
current ID and $3 for Member guests. Admission is always free for Members and
children under 12. Admission is “pay as you wish” on Thursdays
after 5 p.m. For information about the museum, call 202.639.1700. For information
about the college, call 202.639.1800. :: View images and further details from this exhibition
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